Group travel, explained
On a group trip you book one spot and join people you have not met yet. Somebody else does the planning. There are ten kinds, and they are very different weeks. This guide shows you which is which.
The ten types of group travel
Each one has its own line. Follow it to see who goes, how big the group is and which companies run it.
- Escorted coach toursA set route by coach with a tour director. Everything is booked for you.
- Small group adventure toursAbout a dozen people and a local leader, seeing one country properly.
- Tours for your twentiesFast, cheap, many cities, with an age limit that is checked.
- Solo traveler trips for your 30s and 40sSmall groups of people the same age who all booked alone.
- Active and social tripsAn activity every day and a group big enough to keep meeting people.
- Supported biking and hiking tripsThe riding or walking is the point, with guides and a support van.
- RetreatsOne place for the whole week: workouts, yoga or rest, meals on site.
- Sailing weeksYou live on a yacht with a skipper and hop between islands.
- Women-only tripsThe same formats, in a group of women.
- Creator-hosted tripsA creator invites their audience and a local operator runs the trip.
Start with the question you have
- Which one is right for me?Three questions, one answer.
- Can I go alone?Most people do. Here is how it works.
- What does it really cost?What the price includes and what it leaves out.
- How do I pick a company?Seven things to check before you pay.
- Who are the companies?23 of them in one table: ages, group size, where they are based.
Latest
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A new federal rule changes when US airlines have to cover meals and hotels. What it means if you are flying to meet a group.
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Why arriving a day early is the cheapest insurance on any group trip.